Ruling instrument



g- 1939- J. R. zAcHs I 2,168,694

RULING INSTRUMENT Filed June 22, 1937 Patented Aug. 8, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My invention relates to that class of instruments which are employed in drawing and more particularly for producing parallel and rightangled lines, and an object of my invention, among others, is the production of an instrument of this type that shall be particularly efiicient for the purposes for which it is designed and that shall be particularly simple and inexpensive in its construction.

One form of an instrument embodying my invention and in the construction and use of which the objects herein set out, as well as others, may be attained is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved ruling instrument.

Figure 2 is an end view of the same.

Figure 3 is an edge View.

Figure 4 is a view in section on a plane denoted by the dotted line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view in section on enlarged scale on a plane denoted by the arrow in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a plan view illustrating the instrument as used for producing right-angled lines.

Figure '7 is a view in section on a plane denoted by the dotted lines 'l-1 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an isometric perspective view illustrating the manner of use of the instrument.

In the accompanying drawing the numeral 8 denotes the base of my improved device that may be composed of any suitable material as cardboard, comparatively thin, and preferably of rectangular shape. A series of parallel lines 9 are printed on the base, these lines preferably being equally spaced such distance apart as may be desired, as shown herein the space between these lines being one-eighth of an inch. A series of crosswise lines l are also made on the base and these lines may be in the form of a ruler spaced and depicted as in the case of a ruler.

A slot l I is made in the base for a purpose to be hereinafter described. A straight edge I2 of transparent material is adjustably secured to the base 8, the front edge l3 being the ruling edge and the rear edge l4 being the positioning edge to determine the position of the straight edge on the base to produce parallel lines spaced a desired distance apart.

The straight edge is adjustably secured to the base as by means of frictional clamps l of any suitable construction adapted to enfold the edges of the straight edge and base so that the former may be slid along the base and will be held for ruling purposes in any position in which it may be placed.

In the use of the device thus far described the back of the straight edge [2 is placed on the line one-eighth of an inch from the rear side of the ruled section of the card, the ruling edge l3 being projected one-eighth of an inch beyond the front 5 edge l6 of the base. A line being drawn along the front edge of the straight edge as illustrated in Fig. 8, the base is then lifted and its front edge I6 is placed on the line already drawn and a new line is made and by following this procedure any number of parallel lines spaced one-eighth of an inch apart may be drawn. If the parallel lines are to be spaced a different distance apart the rear edge I4 of the ruler is registered with a line on the ruled space to correspond with such distance as may be desired.

It will be noted that the transparent character of the straight edge enables the ruled surface on the base to be observed and therefore enables the front edge of the straight edge to be placed in a position corresponding to the lines already ruled to enable the straight edge to be properly placed to produce succeeding parallel lines.

The ends of the straight edge are formed at right angles to the front and rear edges. With this feature involved the straight edge 12 may be positioned as shown in Figure 7 with the end registering with the edge of the slot H which is parallel with the front edge of the base 8. The edges of the base and the straight edge are now employed to produce right-angled lines in a manner that will be readily understood by an examination of Figure '7.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes I have described the principles of operation of my invention, together with the device which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that the device shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means and applied to uses other than those above set out.

I claim:

1. A ruling instrument including a base hav ing a positioning edge extending entirely along its front edge and also having parallel lines ruled thereon, a straight edge of transparent material overlying said base and the ruled surface thereon and adapted to be placed with its outer front edge parallel with the lines on the base, said front edge constituting a ruling edge and means for securing the straight edge in different positions on the base.

2. A ruling instrument including a base having a positioning edge extending entirely along its front edge and also having parallel lines ruled thereon, a straight edge of transparent material overlying said base and the ruled surface thereon and having its outer front edge adapted to be placed parallel with the lines on the base, said front edge constituting a ruling edge and means for frictionally securing the straight edge to the base.

3. A ruling instrument including a base having a straight outer front edge forming a positioning element and having parallel lines ruled thereon, a straight edge of transparent material overlying said base and the ruled surface thereon and having its front edge adapted to be placed parallel with the lines on the base, and means for securing the straight edge in different positions on the base.

4. A ruling instrument including a base having a straight outer front edge and a narrow slot parallel therewith, and also having parallel lines ruled thereon, a straight edge of transparent material for visibility of said parallel lines therethrough and having means for slidably engaging the base for parallel ruling purposes and also having a squared end, said engaging means being also removable for registry of said squared end with said slot to position the straight edge with its edge at right angles to the front edge of the base.

J ENNIE R. ZACHS. 

